1996 NCAA Division II football season


The 1996 NCAA Division II football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division II level, began on September 7, 1996, and concluded with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 14, 1996, at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, hosted by the University of North Alabama. The Northern Colorado Bears defeated the Carson–Newman, 23–14, to win their first Division II national title.
The Harlon Hill Trophy was awarded to Jarrett Anderson, running back from Truman.

Conference and program changes

Conference changes

Program changes

Conference summaries

Conference Champions

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Virginia State
Eastern Collegiate Football Conference – Salve Regina
Gulf South Conference – Valdosta State
Lone Star Conference – Texas A&M–Kingsville
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association – Northwest Missouri State and Pittsburg State
Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference – Ferris State
North Central Conference – Nebraska–Omaha
Northern California Athletic Conference‡ – Cal State Chico
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference – Minnesota–Duluth
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference – Bloomsburg, Clarion
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference – Chadron State
South Atlantic Conference – Carson-Newman and Catawba
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Albany State
West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Fairmont State and Glenville State

Postseason

The 1996 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the 23rd single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college football. The championship game was held at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, for the tenth time.

Playoff bracket